U.S. patent number 6,612,879 [Application Number 10/264,405] was granted by the patent office on 2003-09-02 for electrical connector with offset keeper holders and associated methods.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Homac MFG. Company. Invention is credited to James L. Zahnen.
United States Patent |
6,612,879 |
Zahnen |
September 2, 2003 |
Electrical connector with offset keeper holders and associated
methods
Abstract
Abstract of the Disclosure An electrical connector for
connecting a plurality of electrical conductors to a transformer
conductor, such as in a confined space, includes a generally
rectangular flat base with offset keeper holders extending from
opposite sides of the base. The base has opposing first and second
ends and a medial portion extending therebetween. The first end is
to be connected to the transformer conductor, while electrical
conductors are to be connected to the second end. The electrical
connector includes at least one medial keeper holder extending
outwardly from a first side of the medial portion of the base, and
at least one medial keeper received in the at least one medial
keeper holder to secure an electrical conductor therein. At least
one end keeper holder extends outwardly from a second side of the
second end of the base and is longitudinally offset and on an
opposite side from the at least one medial keeper holder. At least
one end keeper is received in the end keeper holder to secure an
electrical conductor therein.
Inventors: |
Zahnen; James L. (Ormond Beach,
FL) |
Assignee: |
Homac MFG. Company (Ormond
Beach, FL)
|
Family
ID: |
27765873 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/264,405 |
Filed: |
October 4, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/798 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
4/36 (20130101); H01R 4/34 (20130101); H01R
11/09 (20130101); H01R 31/085 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
4/36 (20060101); H01R 4/28 (20060101); H01R
11/00 (20060101); H01R 31/08 (20060101); H01R
11/09 (20060101); H01R 31/00 (20060101); H01R
4/34 (20060101); H01R 011/09 () |
Field of
Search: |
;439/797,798,810,813,814,812 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
The Homac Companies catalogue on "Quality Electrical Connectors and
Accessories"; pp. 10 and 11..
|
Primary Examiner: Feild; Lynn
Assistant Examiner: Dinh; Phuong
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Allen, Dyer, Doppelt, Milbrath
& Gilchrist, P.A.
Claims
That which is claimed is:
1. An electrical connector for connecting a plurality of electrical
conductors to a transformer conductor, the electrical connector
comprising: a generally rectangular flat base having opposing first
and second ends and a medial portion extending therebetween, the
first end to be connected to the transformer conductor; at least
one medial keeper holder extending outwardly from a first side of
the medial portion of said base; at least one medial keeper
removably received in said at least one medial keeper holder to
secure at least one electrical conductor therein; at least one end
keeper holder extending outwardly from a second side of the second
end of said base to be longitudinally offset and on an opposite
side from said at least one medial keeper holder; and at least one
end keeper removably received in said at least one end keeper
holder to secure at least one electrical conductor therein.
2. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said at
least one medial keeper has at least one medial fastener receiving
passageway therein; and further comprising at least one medial
fastener received in the at least one medial fastener receiving
passageway.
3. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein the medial
portion of said base has at least one medial fastener receiving
passageway therein; and further comprising at least one medial
fastener received in the at least one medial fastener receiving
passageway.
4. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said at
least one end keeper has at least one end fastener receiving
passageway therein; and further comprising at least one end
fastener received in the at least one end fastener receiving
passageway.
5. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein each keeper
holder further comprises a pair of opposing keeper receiving
recesses therein to slidably receive a respective keeper.
6. An electrical connector according to claim 5 wherein each keeper
holder further comprises an end stop associated with the opposing
keeper receiving recesses to prevent the respective keeper from
sliding outwardly therepast.
7. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said at
least one medial keeper holder has an arcuate bottom raised above a
level of the first side of the second end of said base.
8. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said at
least one end keeper holder has an arcuate bottom recessed below a
level of the second side of the second end of said base.
9. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said base
further comprises at least one fastener receiving passageway
through the first end thereof for connecting to the transformer
conductor.
10. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said base,
said at least one medial keeper holder, and said at least one end
keeper holder are integrally formed as a monolithic unit.
11. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said base,
said at least one medial keeper holder, said at least one medial
keeper, said at least one end keeper holder, and said at least one
end keeper comprise aluminum.
12. An electrical connector for connecting a plurality of
electrical conductors to a transformer conductor, the electrical
connector comprising: a generally rectangular flat base having
opposing first and second ends and a medial portion extending
therebetween, the first end to be connected to the transformer
conductor; a plurality of medial keeper holders extending outwardly
from a first side of the medial portion of said base; a plurality
of medial keepers received in said medial keeper holders to secure
electrical conductors therein; a plurality of end keeper holders
extending outwardly from a second side of the second end of said
base to be longitudinally offset and on an opposite side from said
medial keeper holders; a plurality of end keepers received in said
end keeper holders to secure electrical conductors therein; each
keeper holder having a pair of opposing keeper receiving recesses
therein to slidably receive a respective keeper; and each keeper
holder further comprising an end stop associated with the opposing
keeper receiving recesses to prevent the respective keeper from
sliding outwardly therepast.
13. An electrical connector according to claim 12 wherein each of
said plurality of medial keeper has at least one medial fastener
receiving passageway therein; and further comprising at least one
medial fastener received in the at least one medial fastener
receiving passageway.
14. An electrical connector according to claim 12 wherein the
medial portion of said base has at least one medial fastener
receiving passageway therein; and further comprising at least one
medial fastener received in the at least one medial fastener
receiving passageway.
15. An electrical connector according to claim 12 wherein each of
said plurality of end keepers has at least one end fastener
receiving passageway therein; and further comprising at least one
end fastener received in the at least one end fastener receiving
passageway.
16. An electrical connector according to claim 12 wherein each of
said plurality of medial keeper holders has an arcuate bottom
raised above a level of the first side of the second end of said
base.
17. An electrical connector according to claim 12 wherein each of
said plurality of end keeper holders has an arcuate bottom recessed
below a level of the second side of the second end of said
base.
18. An electrical connector according to claim 12 wherein said base
further comprises a plurality of fastener receiving passageways
through the first end thereof for connecting to the transformer
conductor.
19. An electrical connector for connecting a plurality of
electrical conductors to a transformer conductor, the electrical
connector comprising: a generally rectangular flat base having
opposing first and second ends and a medial portion extending
therebetween, the first end to be connected to the transformer
conductor; a plurality of medial keeper holders extending outwardly
from a first side of the medial portion of said base, each medial
keeper holder having an arcuate bottom raised above a level of the
first side of the second end of said base; a plurality of medial
keepers removably received in said medial keeper holders to secure
electrical conductors therein; a plurality of end keeper holders
extending outwardly from a second side of the second end of said
base to be longitudinally offset and on an opposite side from said
medial keeper holders, each end keeper holder having an arcuate
bottom recessed below a level of the second side of the second end
of said base; and a plurality of end keepers removably received in
said end keeper holders to secure electrical conductors
therein.
20. An electrical connector according to claim 19 wherein each of
said plurality of medial keepers has at least one medial fastener
receiving passageway therein; and further comprising at least one
medial fastener received in the at least one medial fastener
receiving passageway.
21. An electrical connector according to claim 19 wherein the
medial portion of said base has at least one medial fastener
receiving passageway therein; and further comprising at least one
medial fastener received in the medial fastener receiving
passageway.
22. An electrical connector according to claim 19 wherein each of
said plurality of end keepers has at least one end fastener
receiving passageway therein; and further comprising at least one
end fastener received in the at least one end fastener receiving
passageway.
23. An electrical connector according to claim 19 wherein said base
further comprises a plurality of fastener receiving passageways
through the first end thereof for connecting to the transformer
conductor.
24. A method for making an electrical connector for connecting a
plurality of electrical conductors to a transformer conductor, the
method comprising: forming a body to have a generally rectangular
flat base with opposing first and second ends and a medial portion
extending therebetween, and with a raised medial portion on a first
side and a raised second end on a second side; forming the raised
medial portion into at least one medial keeper holder extending
outwardly from the first side of the medial portion of the base;
forming the raised second end into at least one end keeper holder
extending outwardly from the second side of the second end of the
base to be longitudinally offset and on an opposite side from the
at least one medial keeper holder; providing at least one medial
keeper to be removably received in the at least one medial keeper
holder to secure at least one electrical conductor therein; and
providing at least one end keeper to be removably received in the
at least one end keeper holder to secure at least one electrical
conductor therein.
25. A method according to claim 24 wherein forming the body
comprises extruding the body.
26. A method according to claim 24 further comprising: forming at
least one medial fastener receiving passageway in the at least one
medial keeper; and positioning at least one medial fastener in the
at least one medial fastener receiving passageway.
27. A method according to claim 24 further comprising: forming at
least one medial fastener receiving passageway in the medial
portion of the base; and positioning at least one medial fastener
in the medial fastener receiving passageway.
28. A method according to claim 24 further comprising: forming at
least one end fastener receiving passageway in the at least one end
keeper; and positioning at least one end fastener in the at least
one end fastener receiving passageway.
29. A method according to claim 24 wherein forming the keeper
holders comprises forming each keeper holder to have a pair of
opposing keeper receiving recesses therein to slidably receive a
respective keeper.
30. A method according to claim 29 wherein forming each keeper
holder further comprises forming each keeper holder to have an end
stop associated with the opposing keeper receiving recesses to
prevent the respective keeper from sliding outwardly therepast.
31. A method according to claim 24 wherein forming the at least one
medial keeper holder comprises forming the at least one medial
keeper holder to have an arcuate bottom raised above a level of the
first side of the second end of the base.
32. A method according to claim 24 wherein forming the at least one
end keeper holder comprises forming the at least one end keeper
holder to have an arcuate bottom recessed below a level of the
second side of the second end of the base.
33. A method according to claim 24 further comprising forming at
least one fastener receiving passageway through the first end of
the base for connecting to the transformer conductor.
34. A method for making an electrical connector for connecting a
plurality of electrical conductors to a transformer conductor, the
method comprising: forming at least one medial keeper holder
extending outwardly from a first side of a medial portion of a
base, the base having a first end to be connected to the
transformer conductor and a second end; forming at least one end
keeper holder extending outwardly from a second side of the second
end of the base to be longitudinally offset and on an opposite side
from the at least one medial keeper holder; providing at least one
medial keeper to be removably received in the at least one medial
keeper holder to secure at least one electrical conductor therein;
and providing at least one end keeper to be removably received in
the at least one end keeper holder to secure at least one
electrical conductor therein.
35. A method according to claim 34 further comprising: forming at
least one medial fastener receiving passageway in the at least one
medial keeper; and positioning at least one medial fastener in the
at least one medial fastener receiving passageway.
36. A method according to claim 34 further comprising: forming at
least one medial fastener receiving passageway in the medial
portion of the base; and positioning at least one medial fastener
in the medial fastener receiving passageway.
37. A method according to claim 34 further comprising: forming at
least one end fastener receiving passageway in the at least one end
keeper; and positioning at least one end fastener in the at least
one end fastener receiving passageway.
38. A method according to claim 34 wherein forming the keeper
holders comprises forming each keeper holder to have a pair of
opposing keeper receiving recesses therein to slidably receive a
respective keeper.
39. A method according to claim 38 wherein forming each keeper
holder further comprises forming each keeper holder to have an end
stop associated with the opposing keeper receiving recesses to
prevent the respective keeper from sliding outwardly therepast.
40. A method according to claim 34 wherein forming the at least one
medial keeper holder comprises forming the at least one medial
keeper holder to have an arcuate bottom raised above a level of the
first side of the second end of the base.
41. A method according to claim 34 wherein forming the at least one
end keeper holder comprises forming the at least one end keeper
holder to have an arcuate bottom recessed below a level of the
second side of the second end of the base.
42. A method according to claim 34 further comprising forming at
least one fastener receiving passageway through the first end of
the base for connecting to the transformer conductor.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of electrical
connectors, and, more particularly, to electrical connectors for
connecting electrical conductors to transformer conductors and
associated methods.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In electrical power distribution systems, electrical conductors or
cables are generally connected to a transformer conductor via an
electrical connector. A transformer may include a plurality of
spaced apart transformer conductors, such as in the form of blades.
Unfortunately, the available space between adjacent transformer
conductors, such as within a transformer cabinet or housing, may be
limited. Accordingly, it may be difficult install the electrical
connectors in this confined space.
U.S. Design Pat. No. 320,381 to McGrane represents a significant
advance in the technology and discloses one such electrical
connector. The electrical connector includes a first end that
connects to the transformer conductor, and a second end having a
plurality of electrical conductor receiving passageways for
receiving electrical conductors therein. A plurality of fastener
receiving passageways are provided for receiving a plurality of
fasteners therein to secure electrical conductors in the electrical
conductor receiving passageways. It may be somewhat difficult,
however, for an installer to manipulate the relatively large
diameter electrical conductors into the respective openings. In
addition, it may also be difficult to position tools necessary for
tightening and loosening the fasteners within the confined
space.
Other significant advances in the technology are represented by
electrical connectors currently offered by Homac Mfg. Company of
Ormond Beach, Florida under the series designation EZ KEEPER.TM..
These electrical connectors include a generally rectangular flat
base having a plurality of keeper holders connected thereto.
Keepers are received in the keeper holders. Fasteners extend
through the keepers to secure the electrical conductors in the
keeper holders. The keepers allow for easier positioning of the
relatively large gauge electrical cables, as the keepers can be
removed during this phase of installation. Stops have been provided
to prevent the keepers from sliding out of the bottom of the
holders. The stops have been provided in the form of a displaced
tab on the upper end of the keeper. Unfortunately, manufacturing
uniformity may be difficult for this stop.
To accommodate additional electrical conductors, two EZ KEEPER.TM.
connectors have been aligned in back-to-back configuration, for
example, or a model ABK 41000 includes keeper holders welded to the
base on directly opposite sides. While the EZ KEEPER.TM. connectors
represent a significant advance, in limited space applications it
may still be difficult to position tools for securing the fasteners
for the keepers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of
the present invention to provide an electrical connector and
methods for more efficiently connecting a plurality of electrical
conductors to transformer conductors, such as in a confined
space.
This and other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention are provided by an electrical connector comprising a
generally rectangular flat base with offset keeper holders
extending from opposite sides of the base. More particularly, the
base may have opposing first and second ends and a medial portion
extending therebetween. The first end may be connected to the
transformer conductor. The electrical connector may also comprise
at least one medial keeper holder extending outwardly from a first
side of the medial portion of the base, and a medial keeper
received therein to secure an electrical conductor.
The electrical connector may further comprise at least one end
keeper holder extending outwardly from a second side of the second
end of the base, and an end keeper received therein to secure an
electrical conductor. In other words, the at least one end keeper
holder may be longitudinally offset and on an opposite side of the
base from the at least one medial keeper holder. The offset and
opposite position of the keeper holders advantageously provides
space for an installer to manipulate tools necessary to secure the
fasteners to secure the keepers in the respective keeper
holders.
The at least one medial keeper may have a medial fastener receiving
passageway therein. A medial fastener may be received in the medial
fastener receiving passageway. In other embodiments, the medial
portion of the base may have a medial fastener receiving passageway
therein and a medial fastener may be received in the medial
fastener receiving passageway. In other words, the fasteners for
the medial keeper holders may extend through either the keepers or
through the base. The at least one end keeper may have an end
fastener receiving passageway therein, and the electrical connector
may further comprise an end fastener received in the end fastener
receiving passageway.
Each keeper holder may have a pair of opposing keeper receiving
recesses therein to slidably receive a respective keeper. Further,
at least one end stop may be associated with the opposing keeper
receiving recesses to prevent the respective keepers from sliding
outwardly therepast. The medial keeper holder may have an arcuate
bottom raised above a level of the first side of the second end of
the base to advantageously allow ready positioning of electrical
conductors including surrounding insulation. Similarly, the end
keeper holder may also have an arcuate bottom recessed below a
level of the second side of the second end of the base to also
advantageously allow ready positioning of electrical conductors
having surrounding insulation.
The base may further have at least one fastener receiving
passageway through the first end thereof for fasteners to connect
to the transformer conductor. The base, the medial keeper holder,
and the end keeper holder may be integrally formed as a monolithic
unit in some embodiments. Further, the base, the medial keeper
holder, the medial keeper, the end keeper holder, and the end
keeper may comprise aluminum, for example.
A method aspect of the present invention is for making an
electrical connector for connecting a plurality of electrical
conductors to a transformer conductor. The method may comprise
forming at least one medial keeper holder extending outwardly from
a first side of a medial portion of the base, and forming at least
one end keeper holder extending outwardly from a second side of the
second end of the base to be longitudinally offset and on an
opposite side from the at least one medial keeper holder. The
method may further include providing at least one medial keeper to
be received in the medial keeper holder, and providing at least one
end keeper to be received in the end keeper holder to secure
respective electrical conductors therein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plurality of electrical
connectors connected to a plurality of transformer conductors
according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of one of the electrical connectors
shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the electrical connector shown in FIG.
2.
FIG. 4 is a bottom end view of the electrical connector shown in
FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is a top end view of the electrical connector shown in FIG.
2.
FIG. 6 is a top view of a keeper of the electrical connector shown
in FIG. 2.
FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the keeper shown in FIG. 6 with the
fasteners removed for clarity.
FIG. 8 is a side view of the keeper shown in FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is an exploded view of another embodiment of the electrical
connector according to the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a side view of the electrical connector shown in FIG.
9.
FIG. 11 is a top view of a keeper of the electrical connector shown
in FIG. 9.
FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the keeper shown in FIG. 11.
FIG. 13 is a side view of the keeper shown in FIG. 11.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred
embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may,
however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be
construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather,
these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be
thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the
invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like
elements throughout and prime notation is used to indicate similar
elements in alternate embodiments.
Referring initially to FIGS. 1-5, an electrical connector 20 for
connecting a plurality of electrical conductors 17 to a transformer
conductor 15 is now described. The electrical connector 20
advantageously includes offset keeper holders 40, 42 to allow for
more efficient connecting of electrical conductors 17 to
transformer conductors 15 in a confined space, such as within a
cabinet, for example.
The electrical connector 20 illustratively includes a generally
rectangular flat base 30 having a first end 32, an opposing second
end 34, and a medial portion 36 extending therebetween. The first
end 32 of the base 30 is illustratively connected to the
transformer conductor 15. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1,
a plurality of electrical connectors 20 are connected to each
transformer conductor 15 in side-by-side relation. The base 30 may,
for example, comprise aluminum, or any other material having
similar lightweight and high strength properties as understood by
those skilled in the art.
The offset keeper holders include medial keeper holders 40, and end
keeper holders 42. More specifically, a pair of medial keeper
holders 40 extend outwardly from a first side 38 of the medial
portion 36 of the base 30 of the electrical connector 20. A pair of
medial keepers 50a are illustratively received in the respective
pair of medial keeper holders 40 to secure electrical conductors 17
therein.
A pair of end keeper holders 42 extend outwardly from a second side
39 of the second end 34 of the base 30. A pair of end keepers 50b
are illustratively received in the respective pair of end keeper
holders 42 also to secure electrical conductors 17 therein.
Although the illustrated conductor 20 includes a pair of medial
keeper holders 40 and a pair of end keeper holders 42, as well as
their associated keepers 50a, 50b those skilled in the art will
appreciate that the electrical connector 20 may include any number
of keeper holders and associated keepers.
As indicated above, the pair of end keeper holders 42 are
illustratively longitudinally offset and on an opposite side from
the pair of medial keeper holders 40. In the illustrated
embodiment, the offset is provided where the end keeper holders 42
stop and where the medial keeper holders 40 begin. The amount of
offset could be greater or less than this in other embodiments as
will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. The offset and
opposite position of the keeper holders 40, 42 advantageously
provides additional space for the positioning of appropriate tools,
such as the ratchet 19 (FIG. 1), to tighten fasteners 55a, 55b, for
example.
The medial keeper holders 40 and the end keeper holders 42 each
illustratively include a pair of opposing keeper receiving recesses
44 therein to slidably receive the respective keepers 50a, 50b. The
keeper holders 40, 42 also each illustratively include a pair of
end stops 46 associated with the keeper receiving recesses 44 to
prevent the keepers 50a, 50b from sliding outwardly therepast. The
end stops 46 may be formed by stopping the advancement of a
circular cutter just prior to passing completely past the lower end
so that a slightly curved residual portion of metal is left as the
end stop. Other approaches may also be used. This configuration
advantageously allows the installer to slide the keepers 50a, 50b
to the end stops 46 without the keepers sliding downwardly to the
floor.
Each medial keeper holder 40 illustratively includes an arcuate
bottom 47 raised above a level of the first side 38 of the second
end 34 of the base 30. Similarly, the end keeper holder 42
illustratively includes an arcuate bottom 48 recessed below a level
of the second side of the second end of the base 30. Electrical
conductors 17 typically include inner conductors and surrounding
insulation. Accordingly, the raised arcuate bottom 47
advantageously provides additional clearance for the insulation
along the first side 38 of the second end 34 of the base 30. No
such clearance is needed for the conductors 17 received in the end
keeper holders 42 as will be appreciated by those skilled in the
art.
The base 30 of the electrical connector 20 further illustratively
has a plurality of fastener receiving passageways 31 through the
first end 32 thereof for connecting to the transformer conductor
15. More specifically, the transformer conductor 15 includes a
plurality of fastener receiving passageways that can be aligned
with the fastener receiving passageways 31 on the base 30.
Fasteners 28 may be used to secure the electrical connector 20 to
the transformer conductor 15. The fasteners 28, for example, may be
bolts and nuts, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, although
other fasteners may also be used as understood by those skilled in
the art.
The base 30, the medial keeper holders 40 and the end keeper
holders 42 of the electrical connector 20 may be integrally formed
as a monolithic unit. The base 30, the medial keeper holders 40,
the medial keepers 50a, the end keeper holders 42 and the end
keepers 50b, may comprise aluminum, for example, or another
material having similar strength and electrical properties as
understood by those skilled in the art. Of course, in other
embodiments the keeper holders 40, 42 can be formed separately, and
thereafter joined to the base 30.
Turning now additionally to FIGS. 6-8, the keepers 50a, 50b are now
described. For simplicity only the medial keeper 50a is described
in detail. More specifically, the keeper 50a illustratively
includes a body having a pair of threaded fastener receiving
passageways therein. A pair of fasteners 55a are received in the
passageways 54a. The keeper 50a includes opposing edges which are
slidably received in the recesses in 44.
Turning now more specifically to FIGS. 9-13, a second embodiment of
the electrical connector 20' is now described. In the second
embodiment of the electrical connector 20', the medial portion of
the base 36' illustratively has the medial fastener receiving
passageways 54' therein rather than the medial keepers 50a'.
Indeed, the medial keepers 50a' can be provided without passageways
as understood with reference to FIGS. 11-13. The medial fasteners
55a' extend inwardly from the second side 39' of the medial portion
36' of the base 30' to urge the conductor outwardly against the
keeper 50a' as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. A
pair of medial fasteners 55a' are illustratively received in the
medial fastener receiving passageway 54' for fastening the
electrical conductors 17' in the medial keeper holders 40'. This
connector 20' embodiment allows access to both the medial and end
fasteners 55a', 55b', from a common side of the connector. The
other elements of the second embodiment of the electrical connector
20' are similar to those of the first embodiment, are identified
using prime notation, and require no further discussion herein.
Referring again to FIGS. 1-8, a method aspect of the present
invention is for making an electrical connector 20 for connecting
the plurality of electrical conductors 17 to the transformer
conductor 15. The method may include forming a body to have the
generally rectangular flat base 30 with opposing first and second
ends 32, 34 and a medial portion 36 extending therebetween. The
method may also include forming a raised medial portion into the
medial keeper holder(s) 40 extending outwardly from the first side
38 of the medial portion 36 of the base 30, and forming a raised
second end 34 into the end keeper holder(s) 42 extending outwardly
from the second side 39 of the second end 34 of the base 30 to be
longitudinally offset and on an opposite side from the medial
keeper holder. The method further includes providing one or more
medial keepers 50a to be received in the medial keeper holder(s) 40
to secure an electrical conductor 17 therein, and providing one or
more end keepers 50b to be received in the end keeper holder(s) 42
to secure an electrical conductor therein.
In some embodiments, forming the body may comprise extruding the
body. The method may also include forming the pair of opposing
keeper receiving recesses 44 in the keeper holders 40, 42 and end
stops 46 associated with the keeper receiving recesses.
Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come
to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the
teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the
associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the
invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments
disclosed, and that modifications and embodiments are intended to
be included within the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *